Mold for forming an inhalation device

ABSTRACT

A mold having a form and a mandrel and a method for forming an inhalation device. The mold may include the form having a body, a first end, and a second end opposite the first end. The body of may define a channel and a longitudinal axis extending between the first end and the second end. The first end of the body may define a first diameter and the second end may define a second diameter which is larger than the first diameter. The body of the form may taper in diameter from the second end to the first end along the longitudinal axis. The mandrel may be sized to at least partially fit within the channel of the form to define a gap therebetween. The gap may be sized to receive a malleable material and the mold can be used with the malleable material to create an inhalation device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

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STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

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TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to inhalation devices and in particular toa mold for forming an inhalation device and method for using the mold toform an inhalation device.

BACKGROUND

Having an inhalation device can make traveling more complicated anddifficult than it already is. It is often challenging and unwieldy tocarry an inhalation device, such as a pipe, while traveling given thenumber of other articles that a user may already be carrying. Also, inair travel, an inhalation device may be closely scrutinized by securityand may be taken away by security leaving the user without an inhalationdevice.

Some people also want to be discrete in the office, at home, and inother public places. These users may find it difficult to have aninhalation device in a pocket, purse, or other bag without beingdiscovered by others in the vicinity.

Users of inhalation devices that can be reused may inadvertently leaveburning embers or other combustible residue inside the inhalationdevice. The inhalation device may be placed in a pocket, purse, or otherbag or disposed of on the ground with a burning ember or othercombustible residue. This can be dangerous for the person that has theinhalation device as well as the surrounding area. Especially in dryclimates that are particularly susceptible to fires, this can present afire hazard.

SUMMARY

Individuals use various tools for forming hollow articles withpredetermined patterns or designs, including those to create differenttypes of inhalation devices. The tools that are used for forming thehollow articles are often large, cumbersome, and difficult to work with.This makes it challenging for the user to quickly and efficiently forman inhalation device that is inexpensive to create, portable, anddisposable. The teaching of the invention solves at least one of theproblems associated with existing tools for forming hollow articles thatmay be used as inhalation devices to support the inhalation of smokefrom burning organic materials.

In one embodiment, a mold for forming an inhalation device includes aform including a body having a first end and a second end opposite thefirst end. The body defines a channel and a longitudinal axis extendingbetween the first end and the second end, in which the first end definesa first diameter and the second end defines a second diameter largerthan the first diameter. The body tapers in diameter from the second endto the first end along the longitudinal axis. A mandrel is sized to atleast partially fit within the channel to define a gap therebetween, thegap being sized to receive a malleable material.

In another embodiment, a mold for forming an inhalation device includesa mandrel. The mandrel includes a barrel form with a first end and asecond end opposite the first end. The mandrel defines a longitudinalaxis extending from the first end to the second end. A grasping elementmay be disposed at the first end and have a diameter. A coupling elementmay be disposed a distance from the grasping element at the first end,the coupling element may include a diameter smaller than the diameter ofthe grasping element. A shoulder extends away from the coupling elementtoward the second end, and the second end defines a distal most portiondefining a planar distal most end. A form has a body that defines achannel. The channel has a plurality of different diameters and is sizedto receive the barrel form of the mandrel. The form has a first end anda second end opposite the first end. The first end has a first apertureand the second end has a second aperture, the second aperture is sizedto receive the barrel form of the mandrel and is larger than the firstaperture. The first aperture is sized to receive a portion of the barrelform. The body of the form defines a longitudinal axis that extendsbetween the first end and the second end. The first end defines a firstdiameter and the second end defines a second diameter larger than thefirst diameter. The body tapers in diameter from the second end to thefirst end along the longitudinal axis. The mandrel is sized to at leastpartially fit within the channel of the form. When the mandrel isreceived within the channel of the form, the form and the mandrel definea gap there between. The gap is sized to receive a malleable material.

In yet another embodiment, a method of forming an inhalation device,includes the steps of wrapping at least a portion of a mandrel with amalleable material. The mandrel wrapped with the malleable material isinserted into a form to form the inhalation device. The form has achannel sized and configured to receive the mandrel wrapped with themalleable material and defines a gap when the mandrel is received in thechannel of the form wrapped with a malleable material. The form isremoved from the mandrel and the inhalation device is removed from theform. The inhalation device has a channel, a first end and a second end,each of the first and second ends are open and the first end has asmaller diameter than the second end.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present invention, and theattendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readilyunderstood by reference to the following detailed description whenconsidered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a form and a mandrel constructed inaccordance with the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the second end of the form in accordancewith the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the first end of the form in accordancewith the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is an overhead view of the first end of the form and the secondend of the mandrel in accordance with the principles of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the first end of the form and the second end ofthe mandrel with the mandrel received within the form in accordance withthe principles of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a view of the mandrel at least partially disposed within thechannel of the form in accordance with the principles of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 7 is a view of the mandrel with a malleable material partiallywrapped around the mandrel in accordance with the principles of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the inhalation device made from amalleable material after being shaped by the mandrel and the form inaccordance with the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9 is a top view of the first end of the inhalation device inaccordance with the principles of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 10 is a flow chart of an exemplary method of forming an inhalationdevice.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As used herein, relational terms, such as “first” and “second,” “over”and “under,” “front” and “rear,” “in, within, and around” and the like,may be used solely to distinguish one entity or element from anotherentity or element without necessarily requiring or implying any physicalor logical relationship or order between such entities or elements.

Referring now to the drawings in which like reference designators referto like elements, there is shown in FIG. 1 an exemplary mold for formingan inhalation device constructed in accordance with the principles ofthe present invention and designated generally as “10.” The mold 10 mayinclude a form 12 and a mandrel 14. The mandrel 14 may be at leastpartially disposed or removably insertable within a portion of the form12 when using the mold 10 to create an inhalation device. The sizes,shapes, and dimensions of the mold 10 may be customized to createdifferent sized and shaped inhalation devices. An inhalation device canbe used to deliver an organic material into the body via the lungs. Auser can inhale smoke from the inhalation device derived from theburning of an organic material.

The form 12 includes a body 16 which may vary in size and shape. In oneembodiment, the body 16 may have a frustoconical shape with a lengthbetween approximately 25.4 millimeters and 304.8 millimeters dependingupon the size of the inhalation device that is being created using themold 10. The body 16 has a first end 18 and a second end 20 opposite thefirst end 18. The first end 18 of the form 12 may define a firstdiameter 22 and the second end 20 of the form 12 may define a seconddiameter 24. As a non-limiting example, the second diameter 24 may belarger than the first diameter 22. For example, the second diameter 24may be between 2.4-22.8 millimetersand the first diameter 22 may bebetween 2.4-15.24 millimeters. In an alternate embodiment, the seconddiameter 24 may be smaller than the first diameter 22 or the seconddiameter 24 may the same diameter as the first diameter 22. Theparameters of the first diameter 22 and/or the second diameter 24 maydepend upon the dimensions of the mandrel 14.

A longitudinal axis 26 extends between the first end 18 and the secondend 20 of the form 12 passing through the center of diameters 22 and 24.In one embodiment, the longitudinal axis 26 may be between 25.4-152.4millimeters in length. Along the longitudinal axis 26 of the body 16 ofthe form 12, the body 16 may taper in diameter from the second end 20 tothe first end 18. This tapering may be gradual from the second end 20 tothe first end 18 or it may occur in steps where the tapering ispronounced at each step. In an alternative embodiment, the body 16 maytaper and become thinner from the first end 18 to the second end 20.

A channel 28, which is described in more detail below with respect toFIG. 2, may be defined within the body 16 of the form 12. The channel 28may be a tubular enclosed passage within the form 12 and may havedifferent dimensions depending upon the size and shape of the mandrel 14which is sized to at least partially fit within the channel 28 of theform 12. The channel 28 of the form 12 may have a plurality of differentdiameters and may taper in diameter from the second end 20 to the firstend 18.

The mandrel 14 includes a first end 30 and a second end 32 opposite thefirst end 30. The second end 32 may be sized to at least partially fitwithin the channel 28 of the form 12. In one embodiment, the first end30 may have a larger diameter than the second end 32 and be too large tofit within the channel 28 while the second end 32 may have a smallerdiameter than the channel 28 and be sized to fit within channel 28. Inan alternate embodiment, the diameter of the first end 30 and the secondend 32 may be smaller than the diameter of the channel 28 such that thefirst end 30 and the second end 32 may be sized to be received withinthe channel 28.

A barrel form 34 may also be a part of the mandrel 14 with a first end36 and a second end 38 opposite the first end. A longitudinal axis 40 isdefined by the barrel form 34 and extends from the first end 36 to thesecond end 38 of the barrel form 34. The barrel form 34 may taper indiameter along the longitudinal axis 40 from the first end 36 to thesecond end 38. In an alternate embodiment, the diameter may remain thesame along the longitudinal axis 40. When the mandrel 14 is within thechannel 28 of the form 12, the longitudinal axis 40 of the barrel form34 is aligned with the longitudinal axis 26 of the body 16 of the form12.

Disposed at the second end 38, may be a shoulder 42 with a first end 44and a second end 46 opposite the first end 44. The size of the shoulder42 will correlate with the size of a feature on the inhalation devicesuch as secondary bowl 82 (as shown in more detail in FIGS. 8 and 9).The shoulder 42 may be disposed at the second end 38 of the barrel form34 and may be variable shapes and sizes and sized to be received withinthe channel 28. In one embodiment, the shoulder 42 may have a largerdiameter than the barrel form 34 and taper in diameter from the secondend 46 to the first end 44. The shoulder 42 may be sized to be removablycoupled with the channel 28. In an alternate embodiment, the shoulder 42may taper in diameter from the first end 44 to the second end 46 or itmay have the same diameter throughout and not be tapered.

The mandrel 14 has a distal end 48 and the distal end 48 may have aplanar surface which can be used to puncture through material used withthe mold 10. In an alternative embodiment, the distal end 48 may have arounded shape, a concave shape, or have a point that can facilitate thepuncturing of the formed material.

The mandrel 14 may have a first portion 50 and a second portion 52 andthe distal end 48 of the mandrel 14 may be a part of a first portion 50and the shoulder 42 may be a part of the second portion 52. The diameterd1 of the second portion 52 may be larger than the diameter d2 of thefirst portion 50. The first portion 50, which may include the barrelform 34 and the shoulder 42, may be sized to be received within thechannel 28 of the form 12. In one embodiment, the first portion 50 maybe longer than the second portion 52.

The second portion 52 of the mandrel 14 may include a grasping element54. The grasping element 54 can be placed in a user's hand and used tomove the first portion 50 of the mandrel 14 at least partially withinthe channel 28 of the form 12. The grasping element 54 may be circular,square, or rectangle shaped. In one embodiment, the first end 30 of themandrel 14 may be surrounded by the grasping element 54, and thegrasping element 54 on the mandrel 14 may have a larger diameter d3 thanthe second diameter 24 of the channel 28 of the form 12. The surface ofthe grasping element 54 may be smooth or textured to make it easier tograsp. In one embodiment, the grasping element 54 may engage the secondend 20 of the form 12 when the mandrel 14 is received within the channel28.

The mandrel 14 may include a coupling element 56 which is configured tomatably couple with a portion of the form 12 and is disposed a distancefrom the grasping element 54 at the first end 30 of the mandrel 14. Theshoulder 42 may extend away from the coupling element 56 toward thesecond end 32, the second end 32 defining a distal most portion defininga planar distal most end 48. The coupling element 56 may be a flange ora collar that surrounds at least a portion of the mandrel 14 and has awider circumference than the first portion 50 of the mandrel 14. In oneembodiment, the coupling element 56 may be disposed a distance from thegrasping element 54 and a diameter d4 of the coupling element 56 may besmaller than the diameter d3 of the grasping element 54. The differentparts that make up the mandrel 14 and the form 12 may be multiple piecesaffixed together or may be all integrated in one piece.

Now referring to FIG. 2, the channel 28 of the form 12 may define aplurality of different diameters which are sized to receive the barrelform 34 of the mandrel 14. In one embodiment, there are three differentannular rings 58 a, 58 b, and 58 c with annular ring 58 a havingdiameter d5, annular ring 58 b having diameter d6, and ring 58 c havingdiameter d7. Each of these diameters d5-d7 may be different or the same.The annular rings 58 a-58 c are sized to create a specific feature ofthe inhalation device. As discussed in more detail below with respect toFIG. 8, in one embodiment, the annual ring 58 a creates the opening of aprimary bowl 80, the annular ring 58 b creates the transition of theprimary bowl 80 to the secondary bowl 82, and the annular ring 58 ccreates the transition from the secondary bowl 82 to the elongate body34. In one embodiment, these diameters d5, d6, and d7 may taper alongthe longitudinal axis 26 of the channel 28 of the form 12. In analternative embodiment, the channel 28 of the form 12 may have oneannular ring 58 a, two annual rings 58 a, 58 b, or more than threeannual rings 58. The diameter of each of the annular rings 58 a, 58 b,58 c may be uniform in the channel 28 or may have variable sizes withinthe channel 28 and the annular rings 58 a, 58 b, 58 c may be disposed atvarious locations in the channel 28.

The channel 28 of the form 12 may define a receiving element 60. Whenthe form 12 is at least partially received within the mandrel 14, thereceiving element 60 may be disposed a distance from the graspingelement 54 at the first end 30. The receiving element 60 may be annularin shape or may be shaped to be coupled with a portion of the mandrel14. In one embodiment, the receiving element 60 may be configured tomateably couple with the coupling element 56 of the mandrel 14. Thereceiving element 60 may also be disposed in various locations withinthe channel 28.

A second aperture 62 may be disposed at the second end 20 of the body 16of the form 12. The size of the second aperture 62 may depend upon thesize of various portions of the mandrel 14. For example, in oneembodiment, the second aperture 62 may be smaller than the graspingelement 54 so the grasping element 54 does not fit within the channel28. In an alternative embodiment, the second aperture 62 may be largerthan the grasping element 54 so the grasping element 54 can fit withinthe channel 28. The second aperture 62 may be sized to receive thebarrel form 34 of the mandrel 14.

Now referring to FIG. 3, the first end 18 of the form 12 may have afirst aperture 64. The first aperture 64 may be sized to receive aportion of the mandrel 14, which includes the barrel form 34. The firstaperture 64 and the second aperture 62 may each have different sizes. Inone embodiment, the first aperture 64 may be smaller in size than thesecond aperture 62. Alternatively, the first aperture 64 may be largerthan the second aperture 62 or the first aperture 64 may be the samesize as the second aperture 62.

As shown in FIG. 4, the distal end 48 of the mandrel 14 may be sized tobe received within the second aperture 62 of the form 12. The distal end48 may be entirely received within the second aperture 62 or only aportion of the distal end 48 may be received within the first aperture64. Now referring to FIG. 5, the distal end 48 of the mandrel 14 isshown received within the first aperture 64. The first aperture 64 maybe sized to receive a portion of the mandrel 14, including a portion ofthe barrel form 34.

As shown in FIG. 6, at least a portion of the mandrel 14 may be sized tofit within the channel 28 of the form 12. When the mandrel 14 isreceived within the channel 28 of the form 12, there may be a gap 66there between. The gap 66 may be sized to accommodate different sizedmaterial depending upon what is being used with the mold 10 andtherefore the gap 66 may have variable sizes.

As shown in FIG. 7, the mandrel 14 may be wrapped with the malleablematerial 68 and then the wrapped mandrel 14 may be received within thechannel 28 of the form 12. The malleable material 68 may be a materialwhich can deform under compression into a different form. As anon-limiting example, the malleable material 68 may be a metal includinggold, silver, iron, aluminum, copper, tin, or a plastic that isdeformable. The materials can be initially manufactured as a malleablefoil which can be folded and transported along with the mold 10. As seenin FIGS. 6 and 7, the gap 66 between the mandrel 14 and the form 12within the channel 28 is sized to receive the malleable material 68 andan amount of pressure may be applied to the mandrel 14 during insertioninto the form 12 so that the malleable material 68 is deformed into aninhalation device 70 (as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9). In one embodiment, themandrel 14 is inserted into the form 12 using a twisting motion to allowthe malleable material to wrap and form around the mandrel 14. Once theinhalation device 70 is formed, the mandrel 14 may be removed from thechannel 28 of the form 12. In some embodiments, the distal end 48 of themandrel 14 may be used to puncture a portion of the inhalation device70. As a non-limiting example, the distal end 48 of the mandrel 14 maybe sized to fit within the first aperture 64 of the form 12 such thatthe distal end 48 may be flush with the first aperture 64 oralternatively the distal end 48 may protrude from the first aperture 64of the form 12 when the mandrel 14 is inserted within the form 12. Whenthe malleable material 68 is wrapped around the mandrel 14 and themandrel 14 is placed within the channel 28 of the form 12, the distalend 48 of the mandrel 14 may puncture any malleable material 68 coveringthe distal end 48, thereby creating an opening in the inhalation device70. This opening may be used to provide an inhalation point, i.e.,interface, for a user of the inhalation device 70.

At least a portion of the form 12 and the mandrel 14 may be rigid. Forexample, the form 12 and the mandrel 14 may be made from a thermoplasticincluding, but not limited to acrylonitrile butadiene styrene,polyethylene, polyamide, high impact polystyrene, and polypropylene.Alternatively, the form 12 and the mandrel 14 may be made from a metalincluding but not limited to stainless steel, a cobalt-based alloy, atitanium based alloy, and tantalum and composites. The materials thatare used in the form 12 and the mandrel 14 are selected to withstand thepressure that is applied to each component when forming the malleablematerial 68 into an inhalation device 70.

Now referring to FIG. 8, in one embodiment the inhalation device 70 mayhave a generally frustoconical shape. As a non-limiting example, theinhalation device 70 may have a first end 72, a second end 74, and alongitudinal axis 76. The second end 74 may be sized to receivematerials that are to be used in to inhalation device includingmedications, tobacco, and other organic materials so that they can besmoked using the inhalation device. The first end 72 is sized to fitwithin the mouth so it can be used to inhale any material placed withinthe second end 74. In one embodiment, the first end 72 may have asmaller diameter than the second end 74 and both the first end 72 andthe second end 74 may be disposed along the longitudinal axis 76 whichpasses through the center of the diameters of the second end 74 and thefirst end 72. The first end 72 may be open to allow air to flow from thesecond end 74 to the first end 72.

The inhalation device 70 may further include a primary bowl 80 and asecondary bowl 82. Annular ring 58 a may create the opening in theprimary bowl 80, annular ring 58 b may create the transition from theprimary bowl 80 to the secondary bowl, and annular ring 58 c may createthe transition from the secondary bowl 82 to the elongate body 34. Theprimary bowl 80 and the secondary bowl 82 may be beneficial to assistwith cooling as a user uses the inhalation device 70. As a non-limitingexample, the primary bowl 80 may be packed with medication, tobacco, oranother organic material and then the medication, tobacco, or organicmaterial may be lit using a match or lighter. A user may inhale air fromthe first end 72 so that air is moved from the second end 74 to thefirst end 72. When air is inhaled it first moves through the primarybowl 80 and then moves to the secondary bowl 82. When the air moves fromthe primary bowl 80 to the secondary bowl 82, the secondary bowl 82 maybe used to help cool the air before it moves through the remainder ofthe inhalation device 70 before it reaches the mouth of the user.Another benefit of the dual bowls is to catch any residual material fromthe primary bowl 80 in the secondary bowl 82. As a non-limiting example,when medication, tobacco, or another organic material is placed in theprimary bowl 80 and then lit, the amount of medication, tobacco, ororganic material will lessen in the primary bowl 80. The secondary bowl82 may be used to catch any residual tobacco, medication, or otherorganic material so that it does not pass into the mouth of the user inthe first end 72. In alternative embodiments, there may be a single bowlor more than two bowls to help with the cooling processes and also tocatch additional material.

Now referring to FIG. 9, the inhalation device 70 may have a channel 78which extends along the longitudinal axis 76 from the first end 72 tothe second end 74. In one embodiment, the first end 72 may have asmaller diameter than the second end 74 and the first end 72 and thesecond end 74 may be hollow. In alternative embodiments, the first end72 and the second end 74 may have different diameters or the samediameters and be partially open or closed. A method for forming aninhalation device is described with reference to FIG. 10. At block S100,at least a portion of a mandrel 14 may be wrapped with a malleablematerial 68. The mandrel 14 wrapped with the malleable material 68 maybe inserted into a form 12 to form an inhalation device 70 (block S102),the form 12 having a channel 28 sized and configured to receive themandrel 14 wrapped with the malleable material 68 and defining a gap 66when the mandrel 14 is received in the channel 28 of the form 12 wrappedwith a malleable material 68. The form 12 may be removed from themandrel 14 and the inhalation device 70 may be removed from the form 12(block S104). The inhalation device 70 has a channel 78, a first end 72and a second end 74, each of the first end 72 and the second end 74being open, the first end 72 having a smaller diameter than the secondend 74.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the presentinvention is not limited to what has been particularly shown anddescribed herein above. In addition, unless mention was made above tothe contrary, it should be noted that all of the accompanying drawingsare not to scale. A variety of modifications and variations are possiblein light of the above teachings without departing from the scope andspirit of the invention, which is limited only by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A mold for forming an inhalation devicecomprising: a form including a body having a first end and a second endopposite the first end, the body defining a channel and a longitudinalaxis extending between the first end and the second end, the first enddefining a first diameter and the second end defining a second diameterlarger than the first diameter, the body tapering in diameter from thesecond end to the first end along the longitudinal axis; and a mandrelsized to at least partially fit within the channel to define a gaptherebetween, the gap being sized to receive a malleable material. 2.The mold of claim 1, wherein the mandrel includes a first end and asecond end opposite the first end, the first end including a graspingelement.
 3. The mold of claim 2, wherein the grasping element engagesthe second end of the form when the mandrel is received within thechannel.
 4. The mold of claim 2, wherein the grasping element defines adiameter larger than the channel of the form.
 5. The mold of claim 2,wherein the mandrel includes a coupling element configured to matablycouple with a portion of the form and disposed a distance from thegrasping element at the first end.
 6. The mold of claim 5, wherein theform includes a receiving element configured to matably couple with themandrel coupling element.
 7. The mold of claim 1, wherein the mandrelincludes a barrel form having a first end, a second end opposite thefirst end, and a longitudinal axis extending from the first end to thesecond end, the barrel form tapering in diameter along the longitudinalaxis.
 8. The mold of claim 7, wherein the longitudinal axis of the bodyof the form and the longitudinal axis of the barrel form of the mandrelare aligned when the mandrel is within the channel of the form.
 9. Themold of claim 7, wherein the barrel form includes a shoulder at thesecond end, the shoulder sized to be removably coupled within thechannel.
 10. The mold of claim 1, wherein the first end of the mandreldefines a planar distal most end.
 11. The mold of claim 1, wherein thefirst end of the form has a first aperture and the second end of theform has a second aperture.
 12. The mold of claim 11, wherein the firstaperture is sized to receive a portion of the mandrel.
 13. The mold ofclaim 12, wherein the second aperture is larger than the first aperture.14. The mold of claim 1, wherein the mandrel has a first portion and asecond portion, the diameter of the second portion is larger than thediameter of the first portion, and the channel is sized to receive thefirst portion.
 15. The mold of claim 14, wherein the first portion islonger than the second portion.
 16. The mold of claim 1, wherein atleast a portion of the mandrel and the form are rigid.
 17. The mold ofclaim 1, wherein the channel of the form has a plurality of differentdiameters.
 18. The mold of claim 1, wherein the channel of the form hasat least three annular rings, each of the annular rings has a differentdiameter and each of the diameters is tapered along the longitudinalaxis of the channel.
 19. A mold for forming an inhalation devicecomprising: a mandrel including a barrel form having a first end and asecond end opposite the first end, the mandrel defining a longitudinalaxis extending from the first end to the second end; a grasping elementat the first end and having a diameter; a coupling element disposed adistance from the grasping element at the first end, the couplingelement including a diameter smaller than the diameter of the graspingelement; a shoulder extending away from the coupling element toward thesecond end, the second end defining a distal most portion defining aplanar distal most end; a form having a body and defining a channel, thechannel having a plurality of different diameters and sized to receivethe barrel form of the mandrel, the form having a first end and a secondend opposite the first end, the first end having a first aperture andthe second end having a second aperture, the second aperture sized toreceive the barrel form of the mandrel and being larger than the firstaperture, the first aperture sized to receive a portion of the barrelform; the body of the form defining a longitudinal axis extendingbetween the first end and the second end, the first end defining a firstdiameter and the second end defining a second diameter larger than thefirst diameter, the body tapering in diameter from the second end to thefirst end along the longitudinal axis; and the mandrel sized to at leastpartially fit within the channel of the form, when the mandrel isreceived within the channel of the form, the form and the mandrel definea gap there between, the gap being sized to receive a malleablematerial.
 20. A method of forming an inhalation device, comprising:wrapping at least a portion of a mandrel with a malleable material;inserting the mandrel wrapped with the malleable material into a form toform the inhalation device, the form having a channel sized andconfigured to receive the mandrel wrapped with the malleable materialand defining a gap when the mandrel is received in the channel of theform wrapped with a malleable material; and removing the form from themandrel and removing the inhalation device from the form, the inhalationdevice having a channel, a first end and a second end, each of the firstand second ends being open, the first end having a smaller diameter thanthe second end.